Self contained sliding door device



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2 Sheets-Sheet l H. F. STEELE, JR

SELF CONTAINED SLIDING DOOR DEVICE Filed June 22, 1964 June HEI II I-I. E. STEELE, .IE 3,2%807 SELF CONTAINED SLIDING DOOR DEVICE Filed June 22,. 1964 2 sheets-sheet a fz? 26) 9m-I )g2 /40\m lm-I L l\`7"'\`rrrfrI/J 7 'C- h ji-L -ll :TU- Il: \I III I /sz -I` /52 I /.52-II I I III I I I, I I I I II IIIII /56 l /50 I` I I I mi II I II `T 45 I I "TI I "T' M@ I I I III I I I I 144`T` II III I I I I I I I I I II s l I l I I J I I I IUI I I I I I I I I l I l I I I I I I I I United States Patent O 3,255,867 SELF CNTAINED SEEDING DUUR DEVllCE Harry F. Steele, fir., 64) River Valley Road NW., Atlanta, Ga. Filed .lune 22, i964, Ser. No. 376,896 le Claims. (Cl. i60- 201) This invention relates to a self contained sliding door device and more particularly to a sliding door device which carries its own track member and lays a portion of the same as the door is slid from one position to another, retracting that portion as the door is returned to its original position.

A primary object of this invention is the .provision of a self contained door device which is sturdy and durable in construction, reliable and eiiicient in operation, and relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, utilize, and maintain.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a self contained sliding door device which may carry its own track member at its lower end, its upper end, or both ends.

A further object of the instant invention is the provision of a self contained sliding door device which moves more easily than sliding doors known heretofore and which does not require specially constructed guideways in the threshold, which guideways are expensive to install, unattractive in appearance, and a source of potential accidents in use.

A still further object of the instant invention is to provide a self contained sliding door device including a plurality of door elements carried in vertically extending, spaced, parallel planes between upper and lower supporting members whereby the door elements may bypass each other in use.

Yet another object of this invention is the provision of a device of the type described wherein the plurality of door elements are interlocking panels wherein the movement of the lead panel Causes consecutive movement of each of the other panels.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a self contained sliding door device which may be utilized as a bathtub enclosure.

A still further object of this invention is to provide such a device having a track member which includes a magnetic means to removably grip a metallic portion of the supporting member.

Other and further objects reside in the combination of elements, arrangement of parts, and features of construction.

Still other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out as the description of the invention proceeds and als shown in the accompanying drawing wherein: v

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of one form of self contained sliding door device in accordance with the instant inventive concept, certain hidden parts being shown in dotted lines;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse cross- Sectional View taken substantially on line 2-2 of FIG- URE 1;

FlGURE 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 3 3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse crosssectional View taken substantially on line 4 4 of FIG- URE l;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary transverse cross-sectional view taken substantially on line S-S of FIGURE 3;

liatented June ld, 11966 ICC FIGURE 6 is a front elevational View similar to FlG- -URE 1 of a modified embodiment of self contained sliding door device in accordance with the instant inventive concept, certain hidden parts being shown in dotted lines;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse crosssectional view taken substantially on line 7*7 of FIG- URE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a still further modified form of self contained sliding door device utilizing a pair of vertically ext-ending, parallel, spaced door elements, only one being shown in detail, certain hidden parts of that one door element being shown in dotted lines;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse crosssectional view taken substantially on line 9 9 of FIG- URE 8;

FIGURE l0 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse cross-sectional View taken substantially on line ld-ltl of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE ll is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially on line llllll of FlGURE l0;

FIGURE 12 is a front elevational view through yet another modified embodiment of the self contained sliding door device of the instant invention utilized as a bathtub enclosure, certain hidden parts being shown in dotted lines;

FIGURE 13 is an enlarged transverse cross-sectional view taken substantially on line it-d3 of FIGURE 12, parts being broken away for illustrative convenience;

FIGURE 14 is a fragmentary cross-sectional View taken substantially on line ltd-ildof FIGURE 12, parts being broken away for illustrative clarity;

FIGURE 15 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse cross-sectional view taken substantially on line l5-15 of FIGURE l2; and

FGURE 16 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view similar to FIGURE 15 showing the use of a mdiiied track member.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings in general and more particularly to FIGURES l to 5, one embodiment of a self contained sliding door device in accordance with the instant inventive concept is designated generally by the reference numeral Ztl and comprises basically a door element 22 having a front surface Z4, a rear surface 26, an upper end Ztl, a lower end 3d, and oppositely disposed sides 32, 34, upper and lower supporting members 35, 3S which may be in the form of a head jamb of a door frame and a threshold portion of the same carrying the door therebetween for movement from a first position which may be the fully opened position to a second position which may be the fully closed position. The sliding door device 2li in the embodiment of FIGURES 1 to 5 further comprises a track member liti formed of any conventional flexible material such as rubber, plastic or the like, in the form of a continuous loop defining an upper pass 42 and a lower pass 44, the lower pass t4 extending between the lower end 3i) of the door element 22 and the low-er or associated supporting member 3S when the door element 22 is in the first position, and the upper pass 42 defining portions of the track member all which are laid intermediate the lower end 3l) of the door element 22 and the associated supporting member 3S as the door member 22 is moved from the first to the second position in a manner to be described in more detail hereinafter. The lower end of the door element 22 carries a gasket 46 with a downwardly depending supporting web 48 to which is rotatably secured a pair of enlarged end rollers 5() and a plurality of intermediate smaller rollers 52, the track member 4) being trained over the end rollers 5t) and being engaged by the intermediate rollers 52 to form the passes 42, 44. As extruded trim 54 may be provided to cover the supporting web 48, if desired. The track member is shown as having a longitudinal void S6 to increase its flexibility and as carrying embedded therein an accurate leaf spring means 58 of a material similar to the conventional roll-up metallic measuring tapes, the spring means 58 continually urging the .lower pass 44 of the track member 40` into engagement with its associated supporting member 38.- The outer peripheral surface 6i) of the track member 40 may be roughened as shown in the drawing to increase the gripping engagement with the supporting member 38. A brush means 62 is secured at 64 adjacent either or both of the enlarged rollers 5() and engaging the outer peripheral surface 60 of the track member 4) to continuously clean the same. Vinyl/mohair pile units 66 may also be provided adjacent the enlarged rollers 5t) to act as end seals to provide a closure of the area on each end of the door. Any desired guide means may be provided on the upper supporting member 36 to maintain the door element 22 in a vertically extending relationship.

A rnodied embodiment of the self contained sliding door device of the instant invention is designated generally by the reference numeral 7l) and also includes a door element 72 having a front surface 74, a rear surface 76, an upper end 78, a lower end 88, and oppositely disposed sides 82, 84, the upper and lower ends 78, being slidably carried between upper and lower supporting members 86, 88. In this embodiment a track member is provided having a longitudinal void 92 and an accurate spring means'94 with a roughened exterior surface 96, if desired, the track membe-r 90 being secured in any conventional manner to the supporting member 88 at the corner 98 defined by the junction of the lower end S0 and the rightside 84 of the door element 72. A supporting web rotatably carries a plurality of spaced rollers 102 in overlying relationship to the track member 90 to maintain the same in engagement with the lower supporting member 88. A gasket 104 and a trim element 106 may also be provided as in the earlier embodiment. The modified device shown in FIGURES 6 and 7 includes a vertically 'extending stile 108 rotatably carrying a plurality of pairs of spaced rollers 110 delining therebetween `a guideway for receiving the free opposite end portion 112 of the track member 90 which extends into the vertical stile 108 as the track member 9i) is retracted.

rIlhe use and operation of the device of the instant invention will now be apparent. With the embodiment of FIGURES 1 to 5, as the door member 22 is slid in either direction, the portions of the track member 40 deining the upper pass 42 are laid on the supporting member 38 to facilitate movement of the door element. Reversal of the movement toward the original position of the door element retracts these portions of the track member 40 whereby it will be seen the entire track member is self contained and there is no need for any exterior structure which would hinder the use of the door by obstructing free passage therethrough and increase the cost of the frame means. With the embodiment of FIGURES 6 and 7, as the door is slid from the position shown in FIGURE 6 to the left, which is preferably the closed position, the free end portions 112 of the track member 90 are laid beneath the rollers 102 intermediate the lower end 80 of the door element 72 and the associated supporting member 88. On movement of the door element 72 to the first or opened position, the end portions 112 of the track member 98 are retracted into the vertical stile 108 to provideunobstructed passage through the doorway. Y Although the height of both embodiments has -been shown as substantially the same, it can be seen that the embodiment of FIGURES 6 and 7 can be substantially lower since it is not necessary to provide room for receiving two passes of the track member below the lower end of the door element. In certain instances this advantage will overcome the disadvantage of limiting the movement of the door element to a single direction as compared to the freedom of movement in either direction of the embodiment of FIGURES l to 5. It will be readily understood that with the embodiment of FIGURES 6 and 7 the vertical stile could be provided on `the opposite side of the door element to allow movement in the other direction, and, vertical Stiles could be provided on both sides of the door element with two free ends on the track member. Also, in the embodiment of FIGURES 6 and 7 the end 98 need not be fixedly secured to the supporting member 88 if the gripping relationship of its pe-ripheral surface is sufficient to preclude movement with respect thereto.

Referring now to FIGURES 8 to 11, a slightly modified embodiment of the self contained sliding door device of the instant invention is designated generally by the reference numeral and includes basically a pair of door elements 122, 124 ca-rried in vertically extending, spaced, parallel planes between upper and lower supporting members 126, 128. The door elements 122, 124 overlap each other slightly as shown particularly in FIGURES 10 and 1l in their closed positions with guide elements 130 intermediate the same to facilitate their passage with respect to each other, and bracket members 132 secured to the lower supporting member 128 on opposite sides of the overlapping portions of the door elements 122, 124, the bracket members 132 carrying additional guide elements 134 to facilitate the sliding movement of the door. elements 122, 124. The door element 122 has been illustrated as having both upper and lower track members, the upper track member designated generally by the reference numeral 136 being of the `form shown lin FIGURES 6 and 7, and the lower track member designated generally by the reference numeral 138 being of the form shown in FIGURES 1 to 5. It will be understoood that these different types of track members may be utilized in reversed fashion, that is, the continuous looped form of FIGURES 1 to 5 could be utilized as an upper track member and the form having a free end portion as in FIGURES 6 and 7 could be utilized as a lower track member. Also, it will be readily seen that both top .and bottom track members could be the same, and could be of either form.

In FIGURES 12 to 15, a still further modified self contained sliding door device in accordance with the instant inventive concept is shown generally at 140 utilized as an enclosure for one side of a bathtub 142. In

this modification the door element is comprised of a4 plurality of panels 144, 146, 148, and with interlocking means in the form of outstanding ears 152 interconnecting successive panels to cause consecutive movement of all the panels when the lead panel 144 is moved. The manner of functioning of the interlocking means will be best seen in FIGURE 14. The lead panel 144 carries a vertical stile 154 which may be similar to the vertical stile shown in the previous embodiments. With this embodiment since the main interest is to provide a watertight compartment, a pair of track members 156, 158 are provided, orie on either side of the panels. Each track member has one end secured to the bathtub 142 at 160, 162, respectively within a cavity dened by a pair of parallel, spaced, vertically extending walls 164 receiving the panels 144-150 when they are collapsed to their fully opened position. The opposite end portions of the track members are free as indicated at 166 and extend into the vertical stile 154 with at least one roller 168 being provided to guide the same in a manner similar to the previous embodiments. The free end portions of the track member 156 are laid in juxtaposition to the front surface of the panels and the'free end portions of the track member 158 are laid in juxtaposition to the rear surface of the panels as the door element is moved from its fully opened to its ful-ly closed position thereby providing a watertight seal. The track members are shown as of different constructions, one having a longitudinal void 170 and each including an arcuate spring means 172, but it will be readily understood that both track members may be the same and of any desired configuration. The lower supporting member in this instance is the upper surface of the bathtub 142 and the upper supporting member 174 defines a plurality of spaced, parallel guideways 176, the upper ends of each of the panels 14d-150 including rotatably mounted rollers 178 rollably received in the guideways 176. Each of the panels may be frosted or transparent as desired.

The track members may be slightly modified as shown in FiGURE 16 (only one track member being shown although a pair of trac-k members may be utilized) Wherein a flexible magnetic element 180 forms a part of the track member and releasably grips a metallic portion of the supporting member which in this instance is the bathtub 142. This track member may have a flexible bellows type upper portion 132 in which is carried the arcuate spring means 184, if desi-red.

The unit of the instant invention may be used as a thermal brake or barrier if the materials for the track, supporting web, rollers, etc. are formed of a low conductivity material. Also, it will be seen that either top or bottom load bearing doors may be 'modified to inlcorporate the self contained sliding track of the instant invention.

It will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved self contained sliding door device which satisfies all the objectives of the instant invention, and others, in-

cluding many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

Since many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and since many modifications may lbe made of the embodiments hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A self contained sliding door device comprising at least one door element having a front surface, a rear surface, an upper end, a lower end, and oppositely disposed sides, upper and lower supporting members carrying said door element therebetween for movement from a first position to a second position, a track member carried by at least one of said ends of said door element, means carried by said door element for laying portions of said track member adjacent said one end of said door element on its associated supporting member as said door element is moved from said first position to said second position, and means carried by said door element for retracting said portions of said track member as said door element is moved from said second position to said rst position.

2. The structure of claim 1 further including a metallic element forming part of said associated supporting member, said track member including magnetic means to releasably grip said metallic element.

3. The structure of claim 1 further including portions of said track member defining a longitudinal void to increase its flexibility.

4. The structure of claim 1 further including an arcuate leaf spring means carried by said track member and urging the same into engagement with said associated supporting member.

5. The structure of claim 1 wherein said portions of said track member are laid intermediate said one end of said door element and said associated supporting member as said door element is moved from said first position to said second position.

6. The structure of claim 5 further including track members carried by both said ends of said door element, means carried by said door element for laying portions of each track member intermediate said ends of said door element and their associated supporting members as said door element is moved from said first position to said second position, and means carried by said door element for retracting said portions of each of said track members as said door element is moved from said second position to said first position.

7. The structure of claim 5 including a pair of door elements carried in vertically extending, spaced, parallel planes between said supporting members, whereby said door elements may bypass each other for moving either door element from said first position to said second position.

8. The structure of claim 5 wherein said track member defines a continuous loop, at least one pair of rollers rotatably carried by said door element and said one end of the same, said track member being trained over said rollers to form a pair of spaced passes, one of said passes extending between said one end of said door element and said associated supporting member in said first position and the other of said passes defining said portions of said track member lai-d intermediate said one end of said door element and said supporting member as said door element is moved from said first to said second position.

9. The structure of claim 5 wherein one end of said track member is secured to said associated supporting member at one end of one side of said door element, a vertical stile carried lby the other side of said door element, said track member extending between said one end of said door element and said associated supporting surface and having a -free opposite end portion received in said vertical stile and defining said portions of said track member laid intermediate said one end of said door element and said associated supporting member as said door element is moved from said first to said second position.

10. The structure of claim 9 further including a plurality of spaced rollers rotatably carried by said one end of said door element in overlying relationship to said track 'memben 11. The structure of claim 9 further including a plurality of pairs of spaced rollers rotatably carried by said vertical stile and defining a guideway therebetween for retraction of said portions of said track member as said doors move from said second position to said first position.

12. The structure of claim 5 further including a brush means engaging said track member as the same is laid and retracted to maintain the surface of same clean.

13. The structure of claim 1 wherein a pair of track members are provided, one of said track members having portions laid in juxtaposition to said front surface of said door element and the other of said track members having portions laid in juxtaposition to said rear surface of said door element as said door element is moved from said first to said second position.

14. The structure of claim 13 wherein each of said track members is fixed to said associated supporting member at said one end of one side of said door element, a vertical stile carried by the other side of said door element, said track members having portions extending in juxtaposition to said front and rear surfaces of said door element when said door element is in said rst position and having free end portions received in said vertical stile and defining said portions laid in juxtaposition to said front and rear surfaces of said door element as said door element is moved from said first position to said second position.

15. The structure of claim 14 wherein said door element includes a plurality `of panels carried in vertically extending, spaced, parallel planes between said supporting members, and interlocking means interconnecting successive panels to cause consecutive movement of all of said panels as one of said panels is moved.

16. The structure of claim 15 wherein said track members extend in juxtaposition to said front and rear surfaces 7 of said lower end of said door, said upper supporting member including a plurality of spaced, parallel guide- Ways, the upper ends of each of said panels including rotatably mounted rollers received in said guideways.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 8 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,190,168 3/1959 France.

PATRICK A. CLIFFORD, Primary Examiner.

J. H. MCGLYNN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A SELF CONTAINED SLIDING DOOR DEVICE COMPRISING AT LEAST ONE DOOR ELEMENT HAVING A FRONT SURFACE, A REAR SURFACE, AN UPPER END, A LOWER END, AND OPPOSITELY DISPOSED SIDES, UPPER AND LOWER SUPPORTING MEMBERS CARRYING SAID DOOR ELEMENT THEREBETWEEN FOR MOVEMENT FROM A FIRST POSITION TO A SECOND POSITION, A TRACK MEMBER CARRIED BY AT LEAST ONE OF SAID ENDS OF SAID DOOR ELEMENT, MEANS CARRIED BY SAID DOOR ELEMENT FOR LAYING PORTIONS OF SAID TRACK MEMBER ADJACENT SAID ONE END OF SAID DOOR ELEMENT ON ITS ASSOCIATED SUPPORTING MEMBER AS SAID DOOR ELEMENT IS MOVED FROM SAID FIRST POSITION TO SAID SECOND POSITION, AND MEANS CARRIED BY SAID DOOR ELEMENT FOR RETRACTING SAID PORTIONS OF SAID TRACK MEMBER AS SAID DOOR ELEMENT IS MOVED FROM SAID SECOND POSITION TO SAID FIRST POSITION. 